Worthy of Worship (Genesis 35:5-8)

In the first four verses of Genesis 35, God tells Jacob to go to Bethel, dwell there, and make an altar there to God. Jacob responds by purifying his entire household so that he will be able to follow God’s command. Then we read today’s passage.

Please read Genesis 35:5-8.

The middle of this passage could be summarized as “Jacob worshipped the Lord by doing what God told him to do.” But these two verses are sandwiched between two events that remind us why God is so worthy of worship.

In verse 5, we see God’s provision for Jacob: he isn’t attacked by anyone because God has caused all of the neighboring cities to be afraid of Jacob. Jacob can travel safely because God is providing for him.

It is truly a blessing to know that the Sovereign Lord of the Universe is on our side. We have no need to fear because God is looking out for us. He is working all things out for the good of those who love Him, so we are free to worship Him without fear of our surroundings.

It is no surprise that Jacob worships the Lord after God provides for his safe travels. What does surprise some of us is what happens in verse 8: a loved one dies.

Jacob is worshipping the Lord, obeying God by doing exactly what God has called him to do, when he gets this tragic news. Deborah is described as “Rebekah’s nurse,” but she was much more than that: she was the last connection that he had to his mom. And now she too has died.

By this time, Jacob’s mom, Rebekah, has already died, and her favorite son was not there for her death or for her funeral. Most scholars believe that Deborah had travelled to find Jacob and deliver the news of Rebekah’s death. After delivering this news, she stayed with the boy she helped raise for the rest of her life. She clearly meant a lot to Jacob, which is why he cried so much at her passing (He named the place where he buried her, “Allon-bacuth,” which means “oak of weeping”).

Death is never easy. Death is part of our curse because of our rebellion against God. It hurts when death claims a victory over someone that we love. And Jacob was worshipping the Lord when death attacked his loved one! That doesn’t seem fair!

But that’s not the end. Tomorrow we will read about God appearing to Jacob again and changing his name to Israel. God doesn’t let death have the final say.

Today we remember that death no longer has the final say in our lives either. Jesus Christ rose again from the grave to claim victory over death. All of us who repent of our sins and put our faith in Him have this hope within us: death can no longer conquer us. In Christ, we are guaranteed eternal life.

It still hurts when a loved one dies, but if they too are a believer, then we have a hope that their death is not the end. Even though they die on this earth, they will live forever in heaven with our Lord and Savior. Jesus can turn our mourning into joy; will comfort us and give us gladness for sorrow (Jeremiah 31:13). Even when death attacks, God is still worthy of worship.